As of October 2026, to reach Johor Bahru from Punggol by public transport, take a cross-border bus such as SBS Transit 170 through Woodlands Checkpoint, or KTMB’s Shuttle Tebrau train. The RTS Link is not open: on 2 October 2026, LTA said it expects service to start in February 2027, subject to safety certification.
The crossing itself is short. The planning goes into reaching the checkpoint, clearing immigration smoothly and getting home again.
This page is part of eduKate Punggol’s When You Need Help in Punggol, our practical guides for life’s occasions, big and small. It covers the bus and train to Johor Bahru running now, what is known about the RTS Link, the checkpoint steps, and what to do if something goes wrong across the border.
Quick answer
- Bus: SBS Transit 170 runs from Queen Street Terminal to Larkin Terminal in JB, stopping at Woodlands Checkpoint and Johor Bahru Checkpoint. For the Queen Street to Larkin direction, SBS lists the first bus at 5.20am and the last at 12.10am, daily.
- Train: KTMB’s Shuttle Tebrau runs between Woodlands Train Checkpoint and JB Sentral. Your passport is your boarding pass.
- RTS Link: not open yet. LTA said on 2 October 2026 that it expects service to start in February 2027, subject to safety certification. As of October 2026, fares and hours have not been announced.
- Immigration: make a MyICA QR code to scan at the bus lanes. Singapore passport holders are exempt from Malaysia’s MDAC arrival card.
- Getting to Woodlands: we have not verified a route from Punggol, so check your journey planner before you leave home.
Going to Johor Bahru: What to Do First
A little preparation the evening before makes the day much easier. Go through these steps in order.
- Check your passport. MFA says Singaporeans can visit Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days, with a passport valid for more than six months on entry.
- Choose bus or train. Bus 170 runs every 15 to 20 minutes on weekdays and every 20 minutes at weekends and on public holidays. Shuttle Tebrau tickets are best booked early; its timetable was not available when we checked, so look it up on KTMB’s website.
- Plan the leg from Punggol. We have not checked an official route from Punggol to Woodlands Checkpoint, Queen Street or the train checkpoint, so plan it in your usual journey planner app. Our commuting from Punggol guide and bus interchange guide help with the Punggol end.
- Make a MyICA QR code. ICA lets bus passengers self-scan a QR code at the bus lanes at Woodlands and Tuas instead of showing a passport. It is not for first-time foreign visitors or anyone using a new passport.
- Taking the train? Arrive early. KTMB opens boarding at Woodlands 40 minutes before departure and closes it 20 minutes before. Counters stop selling tickets 20 minutes before departure too.
- Plan the way home before you go. Know your last bus or train back, and leave a margin for the queue at the checkpoint.
- Save two numbers. The Singapore Consulate-General in Johor Bahru, +60 7-3350130, and MFA’s 24-hour Consular Response Centre, +65 6379 8800.
Bus, Train and RTS Link to Johor Bahru
| Service | Route or address | Hours | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBS Transit 170 | Queen Street Terminal to Larkin Terminal (JB), stopping at Woodlands Checkpoint and Johor Bahru Checkpoint. 34.3 km. | Daily. First bus 5.20am, last bus 12.10am, as listed for the Queen Street to Larkin direction. | The fare is not shown on the SBS service page; check live. SBS Transit hotline 1800-287 2727 (check live). |
| KTMB Shuttle Tebrau | Woodlands Train Checkpoint to JB Sentral | Timetable on KTMB’s website | Book on KTMB’s site or at the counter. Your passport is your boarding pass. |
| RTS Link | Woodlands North Station to Bukit Chagar Station (JB), about 4 km, about five minutes | Not operating as of October 2026. Fares and hours not yet announced. | LTA said on 2 October 2026 that it expects service to start in February 2027, subject to safety certification. |
| Singapore Consulate-General, Johor Bahru | Level 29, MVS South Tower, Mid Valley Southkey, No. 1 Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru. Tel +60 7-3350130. | Mon–Fri 8.30am–1pm and 2pm–5pm. Closed weekends and public holidays. | Lost passports and consular help. It moved here on 10 December 2025. |
| MFA 24-hour Consular Response Centre | +65 6379 8800 | 24 hours | Any Singaporean in difficulty in Malaysia. |
Checked October 2026 — confirm on the official page before you go: SBS Transit service 170, KTMB Shuttle Tebrau FAQ, LTA’s RTS Link update of 2 October 2026 and MFA’s notice on the consulate’s move.
Which Situation Fits You
You were waiting for the RTS Link
Keep waiting a little longer. LTA’s 2 October 2026 release says the operator expects to finish final system tests and trial runs by 31 December 2026, after which authorities in both countries must review the safety certification before approving passenger service. Until a date is confirmed, plan on the bus or the Shuttle Tebrau.
A day trip for food and shopping
Singapore Customs allows only S$100 of GST relief if you were away under 48 hours. Travellers arriving from Malaysia get no duty-free liquor, and there is no allowance for cigarettes or tobacco at all.
Travelling with young children
On the Shuttle Tebrau, KTMB says children under four travel free but must be registered at the counter, and older children need a ticket. There are no concession fares, so budget for a full ticket for anyone four or older.
Family or friends on foreign passports
The MDAC exemption MFA describes is for Singapore passport holders, so others should check Malaysia’s own rules. Coming back, foreign visitors need an SG Arrival Card, while Singapore residents entering at Woodlands or Tuas do not. Our SG Arrival Card guide explains how it works.
Coming home late
We checked bus 170’s times only for the Queen Street to Larkin direction, so look up the return times on SBS Transit’s page before you go. Once you are back in Singapore, SBS Transit’s first and last train page lists the last North East Line trains towards Punggol.
Fares, Rules and the RTS Link Timeline
KTMB’s Shuttle Tebrau FAQ is undated, so treat these as a guide and check live before you book:
- Woodlands to JB Sentral: SGD5 (charged in ringgit) for non-Malaysians, RM5 for Malaysians.
- JB Sentral to Woodlands: RM5 for everyone.
- Returns: a return is two single tickets.
- Booking limits: up to four tickets per counter transaction and six online. No changes are allowed.
- Cancellations: a 75% refund more than 72 hours before departure, and 50% within 72 hours.
- Boarding: no passport, no boarding. For the JB to Woodlands journey, KTMB says the passport must be valid for at least 30 days.
We could not confirm bus 170’s fare, so check it live with SBS Transit. As for the RTS Link, LTA describes a four-kilometre, five-minute ride carrying up to 10,000 passengers an hour in each direction at peak. Passengers will clear both Singapore and Malaysia immigration at the station they leave from, and the Woodlands North RTS station will connect to the Thomson-East Coast Line’s Woodlands North MRT station through an underground concourse. As of October 2026, fares and operating hours have not been announced, and figures you may see online are not official.
There is one more change ahead. In a written parliamentary reply on 22 November 2023, MOT said that under the Singapore–Malaysia agreement, KTMB services in Singapore will cease within six months of RTS Link passenger service starting. Cross-border buses and ferries will remain.
Neighbour’s Tips
- Book the Shuttle Tebrau early, and be sure of your date. KTMB allows no changes, only cancellations with a partial refund.
- Keep your passport in your hand, not your bag, at the train gates. It is your ticket.
- Make the QR code before you join the queue, so it is on your screen when you reach the counter.
- Do not pay anyone for an MDAC. MFA says Singapore passport holders are exempt.
- Do not rely on the Shuttle Tebrau long term. It will stop within six months of the RTS Link opening.
- Watch the S$100 limit on a day trip. Groceries and household shopping add up faster than you think.
If It’s Urgent or Something Goes Wrong in JB
In Malaysia, call 999 for the police, fire and rescue, or an ambulance, as MFA advises. Then contact the Singapore Consulate-General in Johor Bahru on +60 7-3350130 in office hours, or MFA’s 24-hour Consular Response Centre on +65 6379 8800 at any time. If your passport goes missing, our guide to a lost passport overseas takes you through the next steps.
On the Singapore side, emergencies go to 995 (ambulance and fire) or 999 (Police), as listed on gov.sg.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the RTS Link to Johor Bahru open?
Not as of October 2026. LTA said on 2 October 2026 that it expects service to start in February 2027, subject to safety certification.
How much will the RTS Link cost?
As of October 2026, fares have not been announced, and neither have operating hours. Treat any figure you see online as unofficial until both governments confirm it.
What happens to the Shuttle Tebrau when the RTS Link opens?
MOT said in 2023 that KTMB services in Singapore will cease within six months of RTS Link passenger service starting.
Can I use the MyICA QR code on the bus?
Yes. ICA lets travellers self-scan the code at the bus and bus-passenger lanes at Woodlands and Tuas, except first-time foreign visitors and anyone on a new passport.
Do I need to fill in the MDAC to enter Malaysia?
Not on a Singapore passport. MFA says you only submit it if you want to enrol fingerprints for Malaysia’s e-gates on later trips.
Which MRT station is nearest to Woodlands Checkpoint?
We have not verified this from an official source, so we would rather not guess. Check your journey planner, or board bus 170, which stops at the checkpoint itself.
More Help on eduKate Punggol
- Weekend trips to Johor, Batam and Bintan, and air quality
- SG Arrival Card for your return to Singapore
- Commuting from Punggol: travel times
- Punggol and Punggol Coast bus interchanges
- Driving to Malaysia from Punggol
- Official: LTA RTS Link update · KTMB Shuttle Tebrau FAQ · ICA QR code clearance
See You Across the Causeway
For now, the bus and the Shuttle Tebrau do the job well enough with a little planning. When the RTS Link does open, we will all have a new way across. Until then, have your passport and QR code ready, and enjoy your day in JB.
And if your family is also looking for calm, small-group English, Mathematics or Science, eduKate Punggol teaches classes of three in Punggol. Come find out more: Book a consultation · Chat on WhatsApp
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Checked October 2026. Addresses, opening hours, fees and rules change, so please confirm with the official source before you go.
